Stephen McPhail

[drummerboy]

I wonder about that bearing in mind 80% of players (I thought of that stat of the top of my head but at least the majority) of players in the Premiership are from the continent or further afield. Arsenal, Man U and others don't play the physical game and there is plenty room for the cultured midfielder if GOOD ENOUGH.

I agree with your point about top clubs playing football ie Arsenal. However the game in England generally is a lot faster and physical than the rest of Europe. McPhail likes to put his foot on the ball and have a look around before passing, something he didn't get a chance to do in England. He would have a lot more time on the ball on the continent.

[Razors left peg]

Would McPhails style not be similar enough to Carrick, maybe he just needed a manager that trusted him more early in his career. I dont know what the reason was that he never fully made it,maybe he just wasnt good enough but he was a lovely footballer to watch when he was playing well

[yapster]

I wonder about that bearing in mind 80% of players (I thought of that stat of the top of my head but at least the majority) of players in the Premiership are from the continent or further afield. Arsenal, Man U and others don't play the physical game and there is plenty room for the cultured midfielder if GOOD ENOUGH.



Spot on. There have been and is players like McPhail in the Premiership and the other leagues,it isn't all hustle and bustle. If a player is good enough he will get a game also Alonso for Liverpool was such a player also. McPhail was unlucky with injuries and having o leary as manager.

[eitoof]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2010/01/01/mcphail-targets-fresh-start-in-2010-after-cancer-treatment-91466-25503259/

Good luck Stephen

[tetsujin1979]

interview with McPhail in today's Independent: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/if-you-want-any-sort-of--cancer-this-is-the-one-2029378.html

[Onefootednopace]

Piece on BBC website about Mc Phail

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8505195.stm

[elroy]

Worth another look?? Even as a squad option. If Cardiff get promoted, we'll all be seeing alot more of him.

[Noelys Guitar]

Possible move to Ipswich. http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=17025&title=cardiffs_mcphail_linked_again

[Noelys Guitar]

Could be signing for Ipswich today. Always thought McPhail was a good player. If this move happens/works out wonder if he could get himself back into the Irish Squad. http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=17029

[theworm2345]

McPhail has been a regular for Cardiff this season and they look a decent shout to go up. I wonder if he'd get a look if he's playing regularly in the EPL. Trap has had him in the squad before and obviously central midfield isn't our strongest point.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Rumoured that his cancer has recurred on a Leeds messageboard, can't find anything online elsewhere about it tho. Hopefully not true but good luck to him if it is. Possibly should have had more caps when you see some of the players capped in the last 10 years....

[BonnieShels]

That's terrible if true.

[Closed Account]

Suffering from side effects of Sjogren’s Syndrome.


McPhail getting back to fitness, says Mackay

By Liam Mackey
Friday, July 29, 2011
CARDIFF CITY boss Malky Mackay insisted the club’s Irish midfielder Stephen McPhail is "fit and well" but revealed that the 31-year-old is currently being investigated for side-effects from the treatment of a condition known as Sjogren’s Syndrome.
The club’s announcement comes following internet rumours that the former Republic of Ireland international, who successfully underwent treatment for cancer two years ago, was seriously ill.

McPhail was diagnosed with stage one MALT lymphoma in late 2009 and underwent radiotherapy, returning to action for the club the following February. Last season, he made 25 appearances for the Bluebirds.

However, McPhail’s absence from Cardiff’s recent pre-season friendlies had given rise to renewed concern about his health. But his manager said yesterday that McPhail is still in remission although currently experiencing side-effects from treatment for Sjogren’s, whose symptoms can include dry eyes, dry mouth, joint-ache and fatigue.

"Stephen is currently undergoing investigations for possible side-effects of his ongoing treatment for Sjögren’s Syndrome," he said.

"He received treatment for a stage one lymphoma and remains in remission while being dealt with by experts in the field.

"As a club we are fully behind Stephen as he bids to return to full training at the earliest opportunity. He is fit and well and is a part of what we are looking to achieve at Cardiff City."

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfgbcwojgbgb/rss2/#ixzz1TUG7eCMB
Probably best we don't speculate about serious medical conditions.

[Eminence Grise]

I wish him well with this latest setback.

http://www.sjogrens.org/ has enough info if people want to look into it away from here.

[AlaskaFox]

Hopefully he recovers well. Great player, hugely underrated.

[CraftyToePoke]

Hopefully he recovers well. Great player, hugely underrated.

He is a real footballer, have watched him pick the passes for Cardiff a couple of times and he has a lovely eye for the angles, stands out at that level sometimes, unfortunate to be around in the era of preferance for big athletic yard coverers and as many have said on here, would have been more appreciated on the continent maybe. Wish him well and hope to see him back soon again.

[BonnieShels]

Seems like that for a lot of our finesse players. Still hoping that McGeady is a stepping stone and that what happened McPhail doesn't happen anymore.

[Fixer82]

Yeah very underrated. Deserved more caps than he got. Remember him scoring from a corner in some manner of NIKE tournament in USA.
Get well soon Stephen

[Charlie Darwin]

He is a real footballer, have watched him pick the passes for Cardiff a couple of times and he has a lovely eye for the angles, stands out at that level sometimes, unfortunate to be around in the era of preferance for big athletic yard coverers and as many have said on here, would have been more appreciated on the continent maybe. Wish him well and hope to see him back soon again.
I'd say the quality of passing football in the Championship is often better than the Premier League. It's not a coincidence that teams like Blackpool and Swansea have been succeeding there recently.

[CraftyToePoke]

I'd say the quality of passing football in the Championship is often better than the Premier League. It's not a coincidence that teams like Blackpool and Swansea have been succeeding there recently.

I dont know, teams who play nice triangles and good football can prosper, and that is great to see, however overall I think the division can be fairly percentage led, industrial football is a good term for it. Will be very interesting to watch Brighton with Dicker this season, they play stuff thats great to watch, hope it serves them well.

[Charlie Darwin]

I dont know, teams who play nice triangles and good football can prosper, and that is great to see, however overall I think the division can be fairly percentage led, industrial football is a good term for it. Will be very interesting to watch Brighton with Dicker this season, they play stuff thats great to watch, hope it serves them well.
I'd argue the opposite to be honest. I think, being a lower level, pure football is a bit more likely to succeed. Even watching Leyton Orient against Arsenal last year, or Notts County against Manchester City, there was a real effort to keep the ball on the ground and a freedom you don't often see from the likes of Stoke and Birmingham, even though they have better players.

[Paddy Garcia]

Cardiff City midfielder Stephen McPhail has hailed tennis star Venus Williams for helping in his battle against an incurable immune system disease.
The former Republic of Ireland international has made just four league starts this season due to the the ill-effects of Sjogren's Syndrome .
Five-time Wimbledon champion Williams suffers from the autoimmune disease and has offered advice to the 32-year-old.
"I was lucky to get some good advice from her," said McPhail.
Continue reading the main story
“A lot of times I thought enough is enough, I can't deal with this anymore”
Stephen McPhail Cardiff City midfielder
"I contacted Venus Williams about a month ago and she rang the house, which was a bit of a shock being such superstar.
"She's a lovely woman and made me feel really at ease. She exchanged stories on how she is dealing with the syndrome and I got some great advice.
"She hasn't played since she has been diagnosed but I think she is on the road to recovery.
"It'll be great to see her back as she is such a legend of the game and everyone wants to see her play tennis again."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17438300#story_continues_2

[gastric]

Very quiet on here a the moment and just looked for an update on McPhail and found this. A nice article, talks briefly about his illness, coaching qualifications and Joe Mason. He has done well under the circumstances to continue to play and hopefully he can earn a new contract.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2012/08/25/stephen-mcphail-takes-long-term-view-of-career-91466-31692391/

[Grafter]

When I think of McPhail, I think of all those pre-cancer articles up to about 2004 when journalists used to rave about him being the great white hope and the reincar nation of Liam Brady. To be honest, of the rare enough games he played for Leeds I was waiting for him to arrive as a player and it threatened to happen and never did. Two goals versus Chelsea in 99 (one a flukey free) and a long pass against Derby in a league game were the standout moments for me... I never bought the argument that his game was suited to the continent... he just lacked the athletic physicality that all players even Messi need these days.

Like Mark Kennedy, we might have hoped he'd push on and be a real player but maybe both of them weren't ever near being the real deal to begin with and just figments of a wishthinking Irish media's imagination...

[Stuttgart88]

Probably true. Was the 2-2 with Chelsea really as far back as 1999? I remember it well.

[paul_oshea]

You like to remind us how well you remember things Stutts.

You are like that guy in the metro this morning.

[Stuttgart88]

which none of us probably read. Care to add more?

[paul_oshea]

I don't either, but I have a photographic memory and remember every page from every day over the last 20 years.....

it was about some guy who remembers everything from every single day since he was 4.

[gastric]

No surprise he is being let go, considering the setbacks he has encountered. While he deserves the opportunity to play on, not sure how many clubs will be interested in him due to his health issues.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-stalwart-stephen-mcphail-3420106

[peadar1987]

League of Ireland for him!

[gastric]

Training with Wednesday who he has been linked heavily with since Cardiff released him. Hopefully he gets a contract!


http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-wednesday/sheffield-wednesday-mcphail-trains-with-owls-1-6014255

[gastric]

Wednesday are cash strapped, it seems, but hopefully McPhail gets a contract as his age and health issues might have limited his appeal to other clubs.


http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/338810/Dave-Jones-Sheffield-Wednesday-too-cash-strapped-for-contracts-

[tetsujin1979]

signed on a short term deal with Wednesday: http://www.swfc.co.uk/news/article/mcphail-signs-1065183.aspx

[OwlsFan]

And they lose their first game 4-1 to Birmingham with McPhail making his debut. Pity as the side has been crying out for someone who can pass the ball to a player in blue and white stripes but since they were wearing their away strip, that didn't work out. Hopefully things might go a bit better against Doncaster on Saturday when they are at home.

[Stuttgart88]

So it's OK for SWFC to pass the ball around a bit but not Ireland? I'm confused Ted :)

[OwlsFan]

So it's OK for SWFC to pass the ball around a bit but not Ireland? I'm confused Ted :)

Ahh, but Ireland did the long ball with some success. Wednesday, well......

[geysir]

Looks like SWFC could do with ..... drum roll ....
Andy Reid!

[Charlie Darwin]

McPhail has put to bed rumours linking him to Shamrock Rovers. Says he wants to sign a new contract in Sheffield.

https://soundcloud.com/skysportsradio/stephen-mcphail-on-transfers

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www1.skysports.com/transfer/news/11703/9127192/sheffield-wednesday-have-extended-the-deal-of-stephen-mcphail-until-19-february

Deal extended by a month.

[DannyInvincible]

According to Garry Doyle, McPhail is currently in talks with Rovers and close to a deal: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ireland-set-for-friendly-date-with-italians-29963390.html


Shamrock Rovers have moved closer to a deal with former Irish international Stephen McPhail by beginning talks with the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder yesterday.

[gustavo]

McPhail has put to bed rumours linking him to Shamrock Rovers. Says he wants to sign a new contract in Sheffield.

https://soundcloud.com/skysportsradio/stephen-mcphail-on-transfers
Signed for them today :)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

McPhail to prepare, prepare to McPhail.

[BonnieShels]

Now that he and Keith Fahey are back in LOI do we get to close their threads...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Keith Fahey said that he wants to go back to England before he retires.

[BonnieShels]

*whoosh*

[SkStu]

Now that he and Keith Fahey are back in LOI do we get to close their threads...

I think a simple case of forced invisibility will suffice for their transgressions.

[Crosby87]

Is the last real McPhail the McDLT?

[Charlie Darwin]

Is the last real McPhail the McDLT?
I can only assume this is some sort of American McDonalds product that failed.

[Stuttgart88]

Not many CL semi finalists in the LOI. Did he play any part in those games?

A guy I used to work with was a semi pro in Wales and took his coaching badges with McPhail. He said he exuded class in all the sessions. It'll be very interesting to see how he does. Between Fahy and McPhail I hope it's good for the profile of the league. Duffer will be next!

[Charlie Darwin]

No, he was injured almost the entire season and was only back for the semis to sit on the bench. Leeds' run to the semis was remarkable in that they were playing with a threadbare squad for most of the year.